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Choosing Your iPhone

Choosing Your iPhone

Deciding between available iPhone models has never been an easy or simple decision. One can derive help in this endeavor by referring to Apple’s official site, on which you can discover options for comparing the iPhone product line. For example, one can easily compare features of iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4s. However, if the feature set is almost the same between any two items, it is easy to miss any difference using this method.

In the case of iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4s, functional differences center on a few key aspects. These include size, weight, screen parameters and SIM card. With regard to size, the iPhone 5 is a bit bigger, measuring in at 4.87″ ‘x 2.31″ ‘x 0.30″, whereas the iPhone 4S comes in at 4.50″ x 2.31″ x 0.37″. This is not a huge difference, but significant for many users. The iPhone 5 is thinner and trimmer at 3.95 ounces vs. the heftier iPhone 4S’s 4.9 ounces (iPhone 4).

Regarding screen-based characteristics, there is an improved set of screen parameters on the iPhone 5. Screen size and density increases to a 4-inch Retina display that boasts 1136 x 640 resolution at 326 pixels per inch (ppi). By contrast, the iPhone 4S offers a less impressive 3.5-inch Retina display with a 960 x 640 resolution, also at 326 ppi. Though the screen resolution is the same on both displays, the iPhone 5 has a bit larger diagonal measurement, increasing resolution slightly, thus providing some extra space for apps and viewing your favorite multimedia. The back camera is the same on both phones, while the front face-time camera has been improved on the 5 to a new high 720 resolution from the previous 640 resolution. In addition, nighttime photos look better on the iPhone 5

There are SIM card differences beteween the two handsets: The iPhone 4s uses an older style micro SIM while iPhone 5 has taken a step away both from this format as well as the rest of the smartphone manufacturers by miniaturizing the SIM card to new nano version.

Connectivity. Unlike the older 4S’s 3G connectivity, the new iPhone 5 incorporates LTE technology, boosting internet speeds up to 40 MB/sec. While faster internet is definitely preferable, it definitely comes at a cost, such as the potential for faster battery drain. Interestingly, however, there are reports that battery life seems to have improved a bit in the iPhone 5.

Processor. There are important differences between the two iPhones with regard to processing power. The iPhone 5 incorporates the newest, fastest A6 chip, which not only runs at a faster 1000 MHz vs the 800 MHz A5 chip in the iPhone 4S, but also has an ability to “overclock” itself to 1,300 MHz if needed, as well as “underclock” to save power. By contrast, the A5 chip remains at a steady 800 MHz. Further, the memory in the 4s (512 MB) has been doubled in the iPhone 5.

There are also some minor differences between the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4s. For instance, the iPhone 5 provides support for faster 5 GHz WiFi networks, while iPhone 4s only provides support for 4. 5 GHz networks. In addition, new for iPhone 5 is the ability to take pictures while you film in 1080 resolution

Taken together, the above data would seem to indicate that iPhone 5 may seem a better choice overall, but not by that much given the price is at least doubled. If you like the iPhone 4s, you might want to keep it and wait a while for the next generation iPhone 5S or iPhone 6, rumored to arrive later this year. But if you’re buying a new phone, keep in mind that by the time your contract runs out, the cutting edge of your smartphone’s technology will as well. Every year that goes by is significant in terms of functional insufficiency for smartphone users.